Chickens beaten to death

Two pedigree chickens were beaten to death with a tennis racquet at Bowbridge Primary School, Newark, yesterday morning.

Footage from a security camera put up so the children could watch the chickens shows a youth walking past the school and then returning with a racquet stolen from a shed at the school.

He jumped into the chicken coop and shut the door behind him so the birds could not escape. He threw stones at the birds and beat them. One of the chickens tried to escape but he fetched her back and beat them both to death.

RSPCA inspector Mr Ian Callingham said it was a shocking and senseless attack.

"The hens would have endured considerable suffering and distress," he said. "I hope that anyone with information about this will come forward for the sake of the animals as well as for the children and community who have all been deeply affected by this horrific incident."

The youth is described as white, 5ft 2in tall and was wearing a white or light-coloured hooded top and black or dark blue tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down the side to just below the knee.